Picnic areas, hiking trails, and campgrounds in the Angeles National Forest reopened Monday, nearly two years after the devastating station fire.
Volunteer Opportunities | Map: Reopened Areas
The station fire burned for weeks, covered more than 160,000 acres and destroyed more than 200 structures. About half of the destroyed buildings were homes.
There are still areas where the damage is visible, but a lot of the forest has grown back. The public areas will reopen just in time for Memorial Day and the start of the summer season.
A few sections that were reopened included Charlton Flat, Mill Creek Summit and Paul Little picnic areas; the Indian Canyon, Bear Canyon, Silver Moccasin, Nature's Canteen and Sunset Ridge trails; and the entire San Gabriel Wilderness area. The portion of the Pacific Crest Trail that runs through the Angeles National Forest will also reopen.
Burned areas within Big Tujunga Canyon will remain closed for at least one more year. That will allow for the recovery of threatened and endangered species, including the Santa Ana suckerfish, and to restore trails, remove invasive weeds and plant trees.
